𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓! [pjo]

XV; blind asshole

    Hazel squeezed back and smiled weakly at Cal.

    "Hazel" Cal said softly, "we'll get him. He's nothing like you, ok? You're so much better then him."

    Hazel smiled, but shook her head. "You-you guys don't know the full story. I should've been put in Punishment for what I did..."

    Frank was fierce in his outburst. "No, you're not!" His hands were balled into fists, like he was ready to punch anyone who disagreed. "She's a good person!"

    Hazel tentatively reached out, trying to thank him, but he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

    "I could intimidate him" his knuckles were white around his spear "maybe scare him..."

Cal smiled softly, and Percy shook his head.

"Frank, it's okay." He said "That's a good back up plan, but I don't think Phineas would respond well to threats. He has Gaea on his side. Besides, you've only got two uses left, right?"

Frank nodded begrudgingly.

    Cal studied his side profile for a second, smiling at the look in his eye when he glanced at Hazel. She looked back at Percy, whose eyes were scanning the surrounding buildings and treetops.

    Hazel watched Percy and Cal out of the corner of her eye, her heart warming at the love in their eyes. They were what Hazel wanted from her life, what Hazel hoped she and Sammy could've been. So in love, and so trusting of one another.

    She snapped out of her trance when Percy uncovered the Thai noodles in his hands.

    "I've got a plan."

    "You gonna use that as bait?" Hazel asked, stepping forward.

    Percy shook his head, "more like a peace offering."

    The fragrant steam from the food wafted up into the air, and the harpies' heads snapped in their direction. His knuckles were white from his grip on the food.

The harpy they were looking for was circling above a park, watching and waiting and sickly looking. Her arms looked like they could snap with one wrong move. Cal scanned the area, following after Percy as they walked into the park. Her heart clenched for some reason, feeling something like homesickness.

"Looks like Hannibal," Hazel said.

"Except it's Chinese," Frank said. "My grandmother has one of those." He flinched. "I mean, hers isn't twelve feet tall. But she imports stuff...from China. We're Chinese."

He looked at Hazel, Percy, and Callahan, who were trying hard not to laugh.

"Could I just die from embarrassment now?" he asked.

"Don't worry about it, man," Percy said. "Let's see if we can make friends with the harpy."

He raised the Thai noodles and fanned the smell upward—spicy peppers and cheesy goodness. The red harpy circled lower.

"We won't hurt you," Percy called up in a normal voice. "We just want to talk. Thai noodles for a chance to talk, okay?"

The harpy streaked down in a flash of red and landed on the elephant statue.

She was painfully thin up close, like a stick figure.

"She can't weigh more than 80 pounds." Cal whispered under her breath. Beside her Hazel nodded, looking sick.

"Cheese" the harpy muttered, eyes darting sideways. "Ella doesn't like cheese."

Hazel and Cal exchanged glances.